Cultivator.



W. CRONK.

CULTIVATOR.

APPLlCATlON FILED JUNE 11. 1913.

1,177,389, Patented Mar. 28,1916.

1 8 Wfnesses: fizvelziar:

- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM CRONK, 0F MONTOUR FALLS, NEW YORK.

CULTIVATOR.

Application filed June 17, 1913.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM Cron n, a citizen of the United States,residing at Montour Falls, in the county of Schuyler and State of NewYork, have invented'certain new and useful Improvements in Cultivators,of which the following is a specification.

My invention consists of an improvement in cultivators of the typeusually known as hand cultivators, and has for its objects to provide asimple, compact, strong and economical mechanism for the purpose ofrigidly holding the tines of'the'tool in fixed relation, and in such amanner as to facilitate the attachment or connection with a holdinghandle or other carrying frame.

Although the improvement, as stated,,is designed fora hand implement,the construction well adapts it for use with a gang plow or harrow, inwhich a plurality of the several groups or units comprising theindividual tools are mounted on a suitable supporting or carryingframe.

The improvement consists particularly in the means for connecting theseveral inclividual tines and holding them in fixed relation.

In the drawings illustrating preferred forms of the invention,Figure 1is a perspective view of the device. showing a four tine implement, thehandle being broken away. F ig. 2 is an under plan view of the device,partly broken away, and in section, the securing plate having beenremoved. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view, indicated by the lineIII. III. of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view on the line IV.IV. of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a similar sectional view showing a modifiedconstruction.

In the construction illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, showing afour tine implement, the outer tines 2, 2, having the terminaldownwardly turned points 3,are angularly brought together at the point4:, their shanks being flattened and squared. or otherwise suitablyforged, to admit of their being fixedly connected by means of rivets 5,whereby to form a substantial single shank portion, for insertion withinor connection to the end ofthe handle 6, or other suitable supporting orcarrying frame. As thus arranged, the tines 2, 2, diverge outwardly fromthe point of juncture i angularly. as shown, lyingin the same horizontalplane for a portion of their length, and are em- Specification ofLetters Patent.

functions of the implement. structed, when the housing 7 and plate 9Patented Mar. 28, 1916.

Serial No. 774,111.

braced by the housing plate 7 Said plate, which may be convenientlyforged or pressed from sheet or plate metal, is provided withv flangedside portions 8, 8, of 'sufiicient depth to embrace the sides of' thetines 2, and to extend sufiiciently far beyond them to also embrace anintervening closing cover plate or cap 9. Said cover plate, in

the construction shown, fits snugly between the inner edges of flanges8, and is clamped tightly upon the tines 2 by rivets'or bolts 10, 10,arranged longitudinally of the axial center of the housing and the thusformed head of the implement. Additional or auxiliary tinesll, 11,having similar downwardly turned pointed terminals 3, are arranged andspaced apart between the outermost tine members 2, 2, and are securedrigidly in connection therewith, by front bolt 10 and the-engagement ofrear rounded terminal 15 with tines 2, and the plates .7, 9; The shankportions of the intervening tines against the rounded shank portions oftines 2, as at 14, whereby to assist in retaining the middle tines l1fixedly in position against lateral movement. Said tines are made of onepiece bent upon itself, angularly ar ranged somewhat'more acutely thanthe outer tines whereby to occupy the intervening space, dividing it forproper location of the intervening terminals 3, the intermediate tinesin such case being preferably somewhat shorter than the outer ones, asshown in Fig. 1. The clamping housing 7 and itsco acting plate 9 withthe side flanges 8 and the tightening bolts or rivets 10 fixedly holdthe several, parts together against displacement and in rigid relationship for effecting the desired objects and As thus conare tightly drawnand secured together, the

several parts will be fixedly held in tight relationship, so that theimplement is eifectively rigid and capable of being manipulated by therear shank portion and the handle 6 or other holding element to which itis connected.

As 'in dicated. in Fig. 5,. they cover plate 9 may be sWaged inwardly,as indicated at 16, providing inwardlyvextending points or depressedportions occupying positions between the outermost tines 2 and intermediate tines 11, thereby assisting in fixedlyspacing the severaltinemembers and vholding them in fixed operative relation.

By my improved construction it'will be seen: that I securethe severaltines in fixed relationship and position by the embracing housing andWith'the rearwardlyextending double shank portion, so that the tooliscapable of use as a unit in the manner usual with such implements andwith all of the advantages incident in a plural tine cultivator of'thegeneral type disclosed.

The'vconstruction: enables the makingof such implements in a variety offorms as to thearrangementand'position of the terminal Working points;it avoids the necessity of expensive or wasteful cutting of the metal,forging or Welding operations,.and

provides a substantial, rigid,-economical and eificient' device for thepurpose intended.

I It-Will-be understood that the angular arrang'ement of the tines, thespecific form of the'housing, or the detail construction and gether attheir rear portions and fixedly secured to ea oh other'to provide arearwardly extending securing shank portlon, interven- Oopies-:ot thispatent may be obtainedior'five dents east} liylalilfii'esi ng' -theihcoinlnisiioiei ofiitifif ing tines having a rear-convergingone-piecerrear portion formed of a single rod member rounded at its; ,rear end,terminating for- Wardly of the junction'of the outer tines and fiXed-lyengaging their inner portions Whereby to hold the intervening tinefixedlyin po sition, a .housingbox having alsupporting bottom forthetines and angularly disposed sides conforming'to and embracingthe-outer tines, a cover plate for :the housing box fixedly engaging thetines, and meansifixedliy securing the housing and cover plate together.

2. 'fIna cultivatoif, the combination of angularly; disposed outer,tine's brOughtr-together at their rear portions and fixedly v.s'e

cured to eac'hother 'to pr'ovide a reariv'ardly extending securing shankportion, rinterivem ing tines' having a rear c'onvergingzone piece rearportion fonmed- .of single rod v member I rounded at its. rear, end, terininati-ng foir wardly of the j iinction'of the outerti-nes andfixedly enga gingl, their inner portions Where edly engagingfthetinesprovided in? Wardly extending spacing" projections,

means, fixedly securing the'hous'ing and cover plate together.

In testimony w er as j I liereuntoiaffiit my signature in the presenceof two witnesses;

Witnesses: I i

Q Gnome HQCABRIEI};

Washingtoiiiilif If wrnnnimeononk; a I

